Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1887-05-07
7 -DeciaI C0rres10ndence.

JAMESTOWN, y. y. MGrCD o.
Gath in his last novel, makes the nero
say Just before the civil war, "Antietam
creek2 I never heard Of that before. How
deficient in history our country is!' But the
student if he viii but investigate will find our
country's soil rich with historical associa-
tions, yielding plentiful illustrations Of the
great law Of a nations growth.
Take for instance. Virginia. Among her
many memorials as the proud and wealthy
colony Of q century and half ago. are the
ruins Of costly churches and stately houses
built Of imported brick, with carved mahog-
any staircases and massive doors. Among
those that have not been allowed to perish
With age is O stone mansion in Alexandria.
il was built Of material brought from Europe
in 1913. and forms to-day a part Of the
"Bradd0cE House" the largest hotel of the
CITY. About the ancient walls new ones have
been built, and the pretty ''blue room" is the
same one in which was held the council
Of war that preceded Braddocks cam
uqi-u In this room Gen. Braddock offered
10 Washington q commission as aid. and there
the plan Of campaign was agreed upon. Six
d.vs after the historic march began which
ended In Braddock's defeat, and the com
msuceuIenJ Of the last Of the series of wars
between the French and English, to decide
which nation should control the continent.
The connecting link between the French
provinces Of Canada and Louisiana was the
SlarIaga road from Lake Erie to Lake Chau-
tauqua, another place Of interesting historical
associations. It's history in brief is this:
La Sale, the intrepid French explorer,
while learning the language Of the Seneca
Indians, was told by them Of great river
called the Ohio, which had its source in their
country, but whose mouth could be reached
only after journey Of several months La
Sale determined TO see this river He sold
his Canadian possessions TO raise means Of
purchasing four canoes and necessary sup
pies, nj with fourteen men he started from
Canada in July, 1859, with two Senecas as
guides.
They landed on the southern shore Of Lake
Ontario and iourneyed fifteen or twenty miles
southwark TO the Indian villages After the
dsSerHOn of most Of his party and many
other di>couragements La Sale reached
Caau-auuua lake, descended to the Allegheny
and fOaJed down the Ohio as far as the
ranils ct Louisville, where the rest Of his
IL II deserted him, and ne returned alone
Caauauqua lake is thus mentioned by his
hio-runher: a little lake, six or seven
rii=s south Of Lake Erie, It's mouth opening
10 the southeastward -
No practical use was made of this discovery
OF a snort route across the watershed until
the French government, nearly eighty years
after, sent an expedition TO take formal pos
session Of the Ohio and Mississippi valleys in
the name Of the sovereign Of France Their
orders were TO bury at stated intervals
series Of leaden plates engraved with the
arms Of France and q statement Of owner
snip. The party consisted Of 40 Canadians
and Indiqns- Their first eucaur~meut was
near the foot Of Chatauqua lake, and the first
leaden plate was buried on the present site OF
jamestown
Three years after the governor general Of
Canada, preparing for the war which re-
suited from the council held in the blue room
Of tie Braddock house, ordered a portage
road constructed from Lake Erie TO Lake
Charauqua- This was accomplished in four
dg-s Ly AGO men. and was well patronized
through the exciting months that followed.
The last few miles still form the highway be-
e cen the villages Of Westfeld and Mayville.
terminating at the dock from which the
NlbNftlIA a-dLllrlH lllN DdIk tLilA LNI IL
summer months from the railroad TO the
great Chautauqua assembly.
Toward the close Of the revolution, a fOtilla
was built on Chautauqua lake, and 500 British
soldiers and Indian allies embarked with the
intention Of capturing Fort Pitt now Pitts
burg. but rumOrs of the great strength Of the
fort led TO the abandonment Of the scheme.
Some fifty years ago, a row Of wooden piles
was discovered, extending across ChauJauqua
lake outlet, which are believed TO have been
put there for the purpose OF causing a suffi-
cieut flow OF water to carry this hotilla 10
Fort Pitt
What contrast between these turbulent
scenes and the Chautauqua Of to-day! On its
quiet shores is situated lovely summer city,
with 1000 or more cottages, a large hotel,
stores for all needful supplies, police patrol,
daily newspaper, electric lights, IN fact, ell
the Injuries one could desire, added to Cd
portunities for recreation and instruction
furnished by the rich programme Of lectures
and concerts, the schools Of language, normal
classes and college Of music. The forests,
winch once resOunded with Indian war cries
and the rattle Of musketry, now echo with
the merry laugh Of children. the swelling
notes of the great organ and the melody OF
the sweet voiced Chautauqua chimes. A,
night all is quiet. save as the music OF good
night song floats from some cottage door, o.
the great clock in the tower strikes the houl
and SENS 70 say "AlI's well"
N A BARNEY